What is a good manufacturer of recumbent bikes?

Today there are not many bad recumbent bike makers remaining.

However, you may want to look at the many different styles, as they can be quite different in all manner of issues.

While recumbents, or 'bents, may be fast on the level and the down hill, they can be a little slow going uphills for several reasons

The LWB or Long wheel base is quite popular with first time riders, as they can be easy to "get your sea legs".

SWB or short wheel base,. are more popular with the more experienced rider.

Then the high racers and the low racers, Trikes, windscreens and full fairings, all have certain advantages.

Wheel size also has some effects that need to be thought thru- a small ("16) front wheel can be rather harsh riding on rougher roads. A small rear wheel (20") can make for some demanding gearing to get good top speed.

Might try discussing some of these topics with other 'bent riders, and figuring out where your interest lies before committing to a manufacturer.

I would stay away from the old Bike-E 'bents.

http://www.ransbikes.com/Bikegallery.htm

http://www.easyracers.com/

http://www.bacchettabikes.com/

I've listed three. Easy Racers was the first, back in the late 1970's. Bacchetta is a new company, less than ten years old.

I'm riding a Lightning now, I probably won't buy another - not that they are bad bikes (the new year model Phantom looks like a pretty good deal). http://www.lightningbikes.com/

I'm more likely to buy a Rans: http://www.ransbikes.com/

A good source of information is the online catalog at this Wisconsin bike shop: http://www.hostelshoppe.com/recumbent_ca...
They don't carry every make, but they do provide a means to compare different models of manufacturers that they do carry.

Manufacturers that have gone out of business or ceased recumbent production in recent memory include; BikeE, Vision, Burley. I would avoid buying them as many recumbent parts are peculiar to that manufacturer if not that model. I would also avoid any frames made in China as it may be hard to find upgrade/replacement parts in the future.